MEAT IMPORTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 10

MEAT IMPORTS

REGULATIONS APPROVED BRITISH DECISION STABILITY OF MARKET [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Feb. 10, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 9. Announcing that the Empire Meal Council, after a number of meetings, the last of which was held yesterday, had failed to reach a unanimous conclusion regarding mutton and iamb imports, Mr; R. H. Cross (Parliamentary Secretary to the Board ol Trade), in the House of Commons, moved that the Import Regulation Order be approved, which, ne saiu, would enable quantitative regulation to be applied. Mr. Cross added that the Government could look to Australia and New Zealand to co-operate in ensuring that any quotas agreed upon were not to be exceeded. The Government had not yet decided what quotas were expected, but he would be able to make an early statement. The main object would be to secure the stability of the market as far as it was affected by imports, though they were not the only factor, the market also being affected by the price of wool and by-products of sheep.

The House approved the order without a division.

, In the House of Commons on Dejeember 20, the Minister of Agriculture, announced that the New Zcaj land and Australian Governments had ben approached to regulate thcii increased exports of mutton and I lamb to Britain from January 1, 1939. \An early order was being issueo jwnereby all imports of live sneep to Britain would be under licence. The i Empire Meat Council's lunctions | were being enlarged to enable cunIsideration of the supplies ol mutton i and lamb. The Empire Meat CounIcil met on Janury 6 in accordance with the statement by the Minister, ■ and discussed the mutton and lamb | position. The Board of Trade had ’ promulgated an import regulation order providing that mutton and [lamb were not to be imported to the I United Kingdom, except under a [Board of Trade licence, unless accom'panied by a certificate issued by an 'authority which the hoard recognises.